Book Review: Wild Wild Wolf (Timber Creek #1) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance

July 7, 2024April 17, 2024 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: B. Perkins & Aimee Vance
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: March 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She doesn’t believe in fated mates? Game on.

Jade
There’s nothing I want more than to forget my past, especially everything that makes me a part of supernatural society. I’d do anything to keep my sister’s and my secret safe and keep our tormentors far, far away.

Turns out it’s harder to disappear than I thought, especially once Alpha wolf West Larkin catches my scent.

West
Ever since shifters were outed to the human world, my job as Alpha of the Timber Creek pack has gotten more difficult by the day. Between running a town full of supernaturals, my pack, and keeping my family out of trouble, I have enough on my plate as it is.

So why is it every time I run across Jade Rodriguez, a lone wolf who wants nothing to do with me, I want to drop everything to keep her safe?

Wild Wild Wolf is book one in the new Timber Creek series, interconnected standalones following each of the Larkin siblings.

WHAT A GEM.

Gosh I love this writing duo. I have been so excited to start a new series and it delivered. I love the setting and plot. I absolutely love big families and all of the humor and love that’s woven throughout. I was laughing and swooning and just binging this book because it was making my heart feel joy.

I loved West and Jade. The banter was fantastic and I loved seeing Jade slowly but surely open up and realize what goodness was in front of her. And I was very much in the mood for an Alpha romance and West delivered on that front. I loved how protective he was and the way he cared for Jade and everyone around him.

My one tiny tidbit is how Jade handled a situation towards the end, it felt a little out of character after all of the growth she had. It didn’t ruin my reading experience, but I did get a little bugged by it.

I loved all of the wolfy things and the pacing and action and heat. All the tension and all the almost moments. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: 2-3 open door; low innuendo
Violence: moderate-high
Trigger/Content Warnings: a past abusive relationship, loss of parents (recounted)

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ARC Book Review: Bride by Ali Hazelwood

February 6, 2024December 20, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Ali Hazelwood
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 6th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A dangerous alliance between a Vampyre bride and an Alpha Werewolf becomes a love deep enough to sink your teeth into in this new paranormal romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically and The Love Hypothesis.

Misery Lark, the only daughter of the most powerful Vampyre councilman of the Southwest, is an outcast—again. Her days of living in anonymity among the Humans are over: she has been called upon to uphold a historic peacekeeping alliance between the Vampyres and their mortal enemies, the Weres, and she sees little choice but to surrender herself in the exchange—again…

Weres are ruthless and unpredictable, and their Alpha, Lowe Moreland, is no exception. He rules his pack with absolute authority, but not without justice. And, unlike the Vampyre Council, not without feeling. It’s clear from the way he tracks Misery’s every movement that he doesn’t trust her. If only he knew how right he was….

Because Misery has her own reasons to agree to this marriage of convenience, reasons that have nothing to do with politics or alliances, and everything to do with the only thing she’s ever cared about. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to get back what’s hers, even if it means a life alone in Were territory…alone with the wolf.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC.

DEVOURED.

Good heavens. This was enthralling. I love Ali Hazelwood’s writing style and moving into urban/paranormal fantasy was an absolute hit for me. The well placed banter and jokes had me laughing out loud and the romance had be utterly swooning.

I loved the slow burn. It dragged out just as it should and kept me itching for more more more (don’t worry, there’s plenty of payoff). I adored Misery and Lowe. Misery was a great heroine who I loved seeing find her home. Lowe was the best grumpy Alpha that held me attention the moment he stepped on page. I LOVED this entire cast. Even the antagonists were fantastic. A truly well written group of characters who all brought this book to five stars.

The plot was engaging and I liked the world building. It’s very light, but just enough that you get a grasp of the different dynamics and politics between Were vs. Vampyre vs. Human. I love that it feels like there’s still plenty of places to explore (hello second book with a couple I can’t wait to read). There’s a nice level of suspense and that driven need to keep those pages flying.

I loved it so much. READ IT.

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Romance
Language: some strong
Romance 4+ open door
Violence: moderate
Trigger/Content Warnings: kidnapping, murder, mentions of loss of parents, parental abandonment

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Book Review: Isle of Brine and Bone (Halcyon Bay #2) by Natalia Macias Lucia

December 23, 2023November 21, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★☆
Genre: Paranormal Mystery Romance
Length: 526 pages
Author: Natalia Macias Lucia
Publisher: Lightkeeper
Release Date: November 17th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The sea remembers, and so do I.

Dell Costa is reeling from the events that transpired on Halcyon Bay. Since learning the truth about her sister, she’s been haunted by grief and cruel memories of her time at Cliffmoor House. To make matters worse, the search for her fugitive uncle has hit a dead end. That is, until Dell’s cousin Tristen unexpectedly arrives in Woodbridge, bringing news that leads her back to the island—and the mansion—of her nightmares.

But it’s not all pain and desolation on Halcyon Bay. Dell’s romance with Hatch, the charming fisherman who captured her heart last summer, blossoms into a sultry, irrepressible love. Her ties to the Klyne brood are strengthening too, as Dell grows closer to her family and more desperate than ever to protect them from looming danger.

Hunting for clues as to her uncle’s sinister ambitions, Dell explores the island’s dark underbelly, confronting old mysteries that refuse to stay buried, as well as her own inner demons. She soon uncovers secrets that threaten to unravel her fragile world, and a scheme that will wreck everything she treasures most—unless she can stop it first.

In this mesmerizing second book in the Halcyon Bay series, author Natalia Macias Lucia tells a heart-pounding tale of love and vengeance, with higher stakes and strange, new perils lurking around every corner.

STILL IN SHOCK.

I’m not really a thriller gal, but y’all, this series absolutely has all of my attention. I loved book two and I can’t wait for the last book!!!

I really like all of the characters. Dell, Tristen, HATCH, Palmer, seriously the whole crew. There’s a good mix of personalities and decision making skills (or lack thereof) that creates an awesome dynamic. The book has this haunting atmosphere surrounded by a small town that holds one too many secrets. I loved the paranormal aspects too and thought they wove well into the plot without being outlandish. Everything just makes sense.

My one little nugget would be what happened with Dell and Hatch for 15% of the book, I’m personally not a fan of this plot choice, but otherwise it was an incredible read. I was finishing this while at the gym and I’m pretty sure I got some concerned stares as I had a shocked look on my face for the last 30 minutes of reading. GOODHEAVENSWHATHAPPENSNEXT.

Overall audience notes:

Paranormal Mystery Romance
Language: moderate
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, murder, kidnapping, weapons violence, mentions of past abuse

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Book Review: Bring Me Your Midnight by Rachel Griffin

November 26, 2023August 5, 2023 GoodeyReadsLeave a comment

Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: YA Fantasy Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Rachel Griffin
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Tana Fairchild’s fate has never been in question. Her life has been planned out since the moment she was she is to marry the governor’s son, Landon, and secure an unprecedented alliance between the witches of her island home and the mainlanders who see her very existence as a threat. Tana’s coven has appeased those who fear their power for years by releasing most of their magic into the ocean during the full moon. But when Tana misses the midnight ritual―a fatal mistake―there is no one she can turn to for help…until she meets Wolfe. Wolfe claims he is from a coven that practices dark magic, making him one of the only people who can help her. But he refuses to let Tana’s power rush into the sea, and instead teaches her his forbidden magic. A magic that makes her feel powerful. Alive. As the sea grows more violent, her coven loses control of the currents, a danger that could destroy the alliance as well as her island. Tana will have to choose between love and duty, between loyalty to her people and loyalty to her heart. Marrying Landon would secure peace for her coven but losing Wolfe and his wild magic could cost her everything else.

OHHH SO GOOD.

Can confirm. This is my new favorite book of Griffin’s. I was absolutely wrapped up in the forbidden romance between two witches who both wanted better for their groups.

I thought the pacing of the story was enchanting and oh my gosh it gave me ALL of the autumnal vibes. I love the aura of Griffin’s writing and how captivating it becomes. I loved watching Wolfe and Tana come together. THE SWOON. Catch me talking out loud to my audiobook because I could not keep my squeals and stop it right now‘s inside.

A gorgeous story. I loved the themes and romance. I loved the characters and energy of the whole book. I loved all of the witchy drama. READ IT. And the audiobook was amazing too!

Overall audience notes: